Elton John's Top Twenty Songs

In a recent blog post I chose Elton John's "Your Song" as "Song of the Day" at the suggestion of a friend. Listening to the song for the first time in a few years, I started to contemplate Elton and his music. Elton John is a legend in the world of music. For four decades, he and frequent collaborator Bernie Taupin have provided us with a deep catalog of beautifully written and performed songs, and many would be hard-pressed to say that they haven't associated some sort of memories with at least some of them.

When I set out to create this list, I was originally going to do only a top ten list of Elton John songs, but then I looked more closely at his catalog. To single out only ten of the many great songs he's put out would be an injustice.

Since I was in my early teens when Elton John first became popular in the 70's, I associate my first memories of him and his music with that era. I remember Barbara and Julie (Valerie Bertinelli and MacKenzie Phillips) from the show "One Day at a Time" being big Elton fans and hearing "Crocodile Rock" or "Bennie and the Jets" in the car radio on family outings. Over the years, he put out newer stuff, consistently staying relevant and sharing his feelings on such heartfelt tributes as "Empty Garden" (Hey, Hey Johnny)" and "Goodbye England's Rose."

I think that maybe a top twenty list of Elton John songs is more appropriate. As always, the tunes represented on this list may not match yours, either in choices or order, but I'm sure each of you will find at least several you'd agree to be classic. Check it out:

#20 - Levon -This epic 1971 song was named for Levon Helm, drummer and lead singer of The Band, of whom Elton and Bernie were huge fans. It's about a guy who just "gets bored doing the same thing" and its classic early Elton!

#19 - I'm Still Standing - This was a fun, up tempo song all about staying relevant. It's off the 1983 album "Too Low for Zero" and the video was as fun as the song. Take a look here.

#18 - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - This ballad in homage to the famous Oz thoroughfare is one of John's early classics and one of his biggest hits ever.

#17 - Tiny Dancer - This 1971 tune off of John's "Madman Across the Water" was written by Bernie Taupin for his first wife. Very tender!

#16 - Philadelphia Freedom - This one was written for tennis star Billie Jean King, of whom Elton was a big fan. It's one of those happy, fun songs I can remember singing in the car back when I was a tyke.

#15 - Nikita - This tender Cold War era ballad is about a westerner who falls in love with an East German whom he cannot meet because they live on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall. Since East Germans had access to western radio, this song resonated deeply from what was then the other side. This 1985 song also featured George Michael on backing vocals.

#14 - Little Jeannie

This was one of those songs that actually fared better here in the US than it did in John's native Britain, and he's rarely performed it in concert, including it in the sets of only two of his concert tours (in 1980 and 2000). It's a sweet ballad that always reminded me of one of my favorite cousins.

#13 - Island Girl

This is one of those early-era Elton John songs with such an identifiable sound, catchy and cool! Check out a 1976 performance of "Island Girl" right here.

#12 -I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues

This is another one of Elton's classic ballads from 1983 that's as memorable as anything he and Bernie Taupin have ever done.

#11 - Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

This rocking powerhouse from back in 1973 was always a lot of fun!

#10 - Sad Songs (Say So Much)

Turn em' on, turn em' on, turn on those sad songs --

We all have to turn to a sad song once in awhile to make us feel better and this ode to heartrending tunes reached the #5 spot way back in 1984. Watch the video right here.

#9 - Daniel

Daniel is leaving tonight on a plane --

There's an interesting story to this song. When Elton got the lyrics from Bernie Taupin he thought it was too long and removed the final verse, which explained that Daniel was a Vietnam Veteran who had returned from the war and moved on to Spain because he could no longer find peace living in Middle America. This action in essence simplified its intended storyline and turned it into an ambiguous story about two brothers separating. It's still a beautiful song! Watch Elton perform "Daniel" right here.

#8 - Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me - This tender 1974 tune was really made famous when it was released as a live duet with fellow Brit singer George Michael, who sang the song with Elton at a concert in London in 1991. The song hit #1 in both the US and the UK later that year. Watch their magical performance of it right here.

#7 - Empty Garden - Though longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin wrote the words to this one, the song has a deep connection for Elton John, who was a close friend of John Lennon, for whom this song was written after his murder in 1980. The words are heartfelt and tender, and the song is surely among John's best. Take a listen to a 1982 performance by John here in which he was joined onstage with Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon.

#6 - Crocodile Rock

I remember when Rock was young

Me and Suzy had so much fun

Holding hands and skimming stones --

This is probably the most upbeat, enjoyable song on this list, and is still lots of fun to listen to. Check out an early performance of "Crocodile Rock" right here.

#5 - Bennie and the Jets - This homage to "Glam Rock" features one of Elton's most recognizable piano riffs, along with some very high pitched singing. Watch the singer perform the song here with the Muppets in a now famous guest appearance from 1977.

#4 - Don't Go Breaking My Heart - This 1976 duet with singer Kiki Dee is such a happy song with a beautiful melody! Check out a reunion performance by the two at one of John's New York concerts right here.

#3 - Your Song - Elton's first single ever to hit the charts is as good today as it was back then. Just listen to the tender, heartfelt lyrics and be taken in all over again! Check it out here.

#2 - Candle in the Wind - This one, of course, was written for Norma Jean Mortenson, better known by her stage name, Marilyn Monroe. The song is such a tender and beautiful ode to a life beset by tragedy and John famously reworked the song in tribute to Princess Diana upon her tragic death in 1997. Take a look at a classic performance of the song right here.

#1 - Rocket Man

"Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact it's cold as hell -- "

Inspired by the Apollo space missions, this one is classic Elton through and through. I posted it once on my blog as "Song of the Day" and it's still one of the all time most viewed posts there. Great, great song! Take a listen to it here.

So there you have it, my picks for Elton John's twenty best songs. I'm sure that many of these songs bring back great memories for you as they have for me. If you have any favorite Elton songs you'd like to mention, please share them in the comments section.

Sources:

Personal experience

Songfacts

Check out some more top ten lists of favorite musical artists right here.